Any tips on MORE SLEEP with a newborn??

Question

I know it’s not really possible right now, but maybe someone has tips on how to now feel so terribly sleep deprived in the postpartum time with a baby

Answer

I wasnt sleeping at all until I finally gave in and brought the baby into bed with me. After hours of research on how to safely bedshare, I gave it a shot and we both slept for 3 hour stretches, waking up for a feed and going right back to sleep. My DH stayed up and supervised the first couple times to make sure we were safe lol. It has changed our world though. Good luck!!

Answer

Nap when baby naps. I used to just pick one nap a day (because they nap a lot at that age) and nap with them. Then during their other naps, I would get stuff done. But it would help give me a second wind for the day!

Answer

Stop focusing on how little sleep you're getting. This helped me a lot! Also 6 weeks is when it starts to become more predictable and you can introduce a routine.

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My husband and I take shifts. He’ll stay up until 12 or 1 am so I can actually get some solid sleep. It’s the only way I’m surviving this stage.

Answer

All you can do is nap with baby during the day. The exhaustion is so hard. If you have a significant other, a friend, or a family member you should ask for help. Maybe someone can watch baby for a few hours while you rest.

Answer

Do what works for you based on how you function. And what works for your schedule and life.  There are a few different strategies:
- Get baby on a sleep, feed, and wake cycle/schedule. I used www.practicallyperfectbaby.com.  It’s been awesome.  My baby was in the NICU for awhile after being born premature.  They had him on a feeding schedule every 3 hours (3/6/9/12 am/pm).  We continued it and implemented sleep scheduling with that.  So we get 3 hour stretches of sleep at night right now. And will lengthen it in a couple weeks.  My husband and I alternate taking care of each cycle so we both get at least a 6 hour stretch.
- As everyone has probably mentioned, try to nap when the baby naps. 
- See if your partner/friend/family can watch the baby for a stretch to get sleep. I was insanely tired one day, so my husband took 2 cycles watching him in a row so I could get a long stretch of sleep in.
- SAFELY co-sleep.  They make little safe bassinets that sit in your bed now.
- If your LO is having difficulty sleeping during their nap time, try feeding them and then putting them down for the nap.  Babies are usually most tired after eating. Also, giving formula can sometimes help since it keeps them full and is slower to digest vs breast milk

Answer

We are fortunate that my husband has 3 months paid leave after I give birth. So during these 3 months he stays up with the baby all night so I can rest and recover. If not, I think I'll go crazy from lack of sleep.

Answer

I just read a first-person article about a woman who was exclusively breastfeeding (which I’m doing with my 4-week old) and began introducing one bottle of formula as the last meal for her baby each evening. Since babies are more full from a bottle of formula than from one nursing session, this meant that she and her baby were able to start the night with one 4 or 5-hour stretch of sleep each night. I’m thinking about trying this!

Any tips on MORE SLEEP with a newborn??

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